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Rep. Doyle throws support behind FCC reclassification plan

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) said to accomplish the goal of bringing more broadband connections across the nation, the Federal Communications Commission must proceed with a plan to redefine high-speed Internet access as a telecommunications service. He also urged Congress to proceed on a proposal by key Democratic lawmakers to update the Communications Act of 1996, which has not properly addressed the role of the Internet.

In a letter for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Doyle, a member of the telecommunications subcommittee, agreed with the agency head's plan to reclassify broadband as a Title II service and forbear, or exclude, broadband from many of the rules that apply to plain old telephone services.

"I look forward to working with you to see to it that the Commission has the proper authority going forward to protect and promote an open internet where consumers have the ability to access the services they want using the devices they want," Doyle wrote.

The letter comes amid a flood of protests from 74 other Democratic lawmakers -- most of whom do not sit on the committees that oversee the FCC -- who say reclassification is unnecessarily burdensome on Internet service providers.